NEW YORK — Bryce Harper won an MVP and played in a World Series in his first five seasons with the Phillies.
The eight-time All-Star hopes to cross off two big voids to his Hall of Fame-tracking career in year six.
One down, one to go.
The Phillies were in first place in the NL East every day since May 3 and on Monday clinched the franchise’s first division title since 2011 with a 6-2 win over the visiting Cubs that included homers by J.T. Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber.
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Once the regular season ends Sunday, Harper and the Phillies will begin their quest for a bigger crown, World Series champions.
The Phils had long playoffs runs that fell short the last two years when they lost the 2022 World Series to the Astros in six games and were ousted in the 2023 NLCS by the Diamondbacks, who won Game 6 and Game 7 in Philly.
Elsewhere …
— Bryce Miller pitched a two-hitter over seven scoreless innings for the Mariners, who moved to within 1.5 games of an AL wild-card position and denied the Astros from clinching the AL West with a 5-1 win in Houston. The Astros have a four-game division lead with five to play over second-place Seattle, which clinched the tiebreaker with the series-opening victory.
— The Mets moved into sole possession of the second NL wild-card position on an off day with the Diamondbacks losing 6-3 to the Giants in Phoenix. Arizona has a 1.5 game lead for the last wild card on the Braves, who begin a three-game series with the Mets on Tuesday night in Atlanta.
— Tanner Houck pitched shutout innings for the Red Sox, who kept their longshot AL wild card hopes alive with a 6-1 win in Toronto. Boston has won three in a row after dropping six of eight to get to 4.5 games out of a playoff position.
— The Yankees can clinch the AL East on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium in the opener of a three-game series against the second-place Orioles, who are six games back with six to play.
Here’s a look at magic numbers plus tiebreakers and remaining schedules for the contenders through Monday, Sept. 23, along with playoff matchups if the postseason began on Sept. 24:
AL EAST
NEW YORK YANKEES (92-63)
Standings: First in AL East. Lead second-place Orioles by 6 games.
Tiebreakers: Yankees trail season series with Orioles 6-4; Yankees won season series with Guardians 4-2.
Magic number to clinch AL East: 1
Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched on Sept. 17.
Yankees schedule:
Sept. 24: vs. Orioles, 7:05 p.m., EST
Sept. 25: vs. Orioles, 7:05 p.m., EST
Sept. 26: vs. Orioles, 7:05 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: vs. Pirates, 7:05 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: vs. Pirates, 1:05 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: vs. Pirates, 3:05 p.m., EST
BALTIMORE ORIOLES (86-70)
Standings: Second in AL East. Trail first-place Yankees by 6 games. First in AL wild-card standings. Lead Royals and Tigers by 4 games for first and second AL wild card. Lead Twins by 4.5 games for third AL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Orioles lead season series with Yankees 6-4; Orioles lost season series with Guardians 4-3; Orioles lost season with Tigers 4-2; Orioles lead season series with Twins 3-0.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 3
Orioles schedule:
Sept. 24: at Yankees, 7:05 p.m., EST
Sept. 25: at Yankees, 7:05 p.m., EST
Sept. 26: at Yankees, 7:05 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: at Twins, 7:05 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: at Twins, 8:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: at Twins, 3:10 p.m., EST
BOSTON RED SOX (79-78)
Standings: Third in AL East. Sixth in AL wild-card standings. Trail Royals and Tigers by 3.5 games for second and third AL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Red Sox and Twins tied season series 3-3; Red Sox won season series with Royals 4-2; Red Sox lost season series with Tigers 4-3.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 3
Red Sox schedule:
Sept. 24: at Blue Jays, 7:07 p.m., EST
Sept. 25: at Blue Jays, 7:07 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: vs. Rays, 7:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: vs. Rays, 4:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: vs. Rays, 3:05 p.m., EST
TAMPA BAY RAYS (78-78)
Standings: Fourth in AL East. Seventh in AL wild-card standings. Trail Royals and Tigers by 4 games for second and third AL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Rays won season series with Twins 4-3; Rays trail season series with Tigers 2-1; Rays and Royals tied season series 3-3.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 3
Rays schedule:
Sept. 24: at Tigers, 6:40 p.m., EST
Sept. 25: at Tigers, 6:40 p.m., EST
Sept. 26: at Tigers, 1:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: at Red Sox, 7:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: at Red Sox, 4:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: at Red Sox, 3:05 p.m., EST
AL CENTRAL
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS (90-67)
Standings: First in AL Central. Lead second-place Royals and Tigers by 7.5 games.
Tiebreakers: Guardians lost season series with Yankees 4-2.
Magic number to clinch AL Central: Clinched Sept. 21.
Guardians schedule:
Sept. 24: vs. Reds, 6:40 p.m., EST
Sept. 25: vs. Reds, 6:40 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: vs. Astros, 7:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: vs. Astros, 6:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: vs. Astros, 3:10 p.m., EST
KANSAS CITY ROYALS (82-74)
Standings: Tied with Tigers for second in AL Central. Tied with Tigers for second and third in AL wild card. Lead Twins by 1 game for second and third AL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Royals lost season series with Twins 7-6; Royals and Mariners season series tied 3-3; Royals lost season series with Red Sox 4-2; Royals won season series with Tigers 7-6; Royals and Rays tied season series 3-3.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 6
Royals schedule:
Sept. 24: at Nationals, 6:45 p.m., EST
Sept. 25: at Nationals, 6:45 p.m., EST
Sept. 26: at Nationals, 1:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: at Braves, 7:20 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: at Braves, 7:20 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: at Braves, 3:20 p.m., EST
DETROIT TIGERS (82-74)
Standings: Tied with Royals for second in AL Central. Tied with Royals for second and third AL wild card. Lead Twins by 1 game for second and third AL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Tigers lost season series with Twins 7-6; Tigers lost series with Royals 7-6; Tigers won season series with Mariners 5-1; Tigers won season series with Red Sox 4-3; Tigers lost season series with Yankees 4-2; Tigers won season series with Orioles 4-2; Tigers lead season series with Rays 2-1.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 6
Tigers schedule:
Sept. 24: vs. Rays, 6:40 p.m., EST
Sept. 25: vs. Rays, 6:40 p.m., EST
Sept. 26: vs. Rays, 1:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: vs. White Sox, 6:40 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: vs. White Sox, 1:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: vs. White Sox, 3:10 p.m., EST
MINNESOTA TWINS (81-75)
Standings: Fourth in AL Central. Fourth in AL wild-card standings. Trail Royals and Tigers by 1 game for second and third AL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Twins won season series with Royals 7-6; Twins won season series with Tigers 7-6; Twins won season series with Mariners 5-2; Twins and Red Sox tied season series 3-3; Twins lost season series with Rays 4-3.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 6
Twins schedule:
Sept. 24: vs. Marlins, 7:40 p.m., EST
Sept. 25: vs. Marlins, 7:40 p.m., EST
Sept. 26: vs. Marlins, 7:40 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: vs. Orioles, 7:05 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: vs. Orioles, 8:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: vs. Orioles, 3:10 p.m., EST
AL WEST
HOUSTON ASTROS (85-72)
Standings: First in AL West. Lead second-place Mariners by 4 games.
Tiebreakers: Astros trail season series with Mariners 7-4.
Magic number to clinch AL West: 2
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 2
Astros schedule:
Sept. 24: vs. Mariners, 8:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 25: vs. Mariners, 2:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: at Guardians, 7:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: at Guardians, 6:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: at Guardians, 3:10 p.m., EST
SEATTLE MARINERS (81-76)
Standings: Second in AL West. Trail first-place Astros by 4 games. Fifth in AL wild-card standings. Trail Royals and Tigers by 1.5 games for second and third AL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Mariners lead season series with Astros 7-4; Mariners lost season series with Twins 5-2; Mariners and Royals season series tied 3-3; Mariners lost season series with Tigers 5-1.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 5
Mariners schedule:
Sept. 24: at Astros, 8:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 25: at Astros, 2:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: vs. Athletics, 8:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: vs. Athletics, 7:40 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: vs. Athletics, 3:10 p.m., EST
NL EAST
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (93-64)
Standings: First in NL East. Lead second place Mets by 5.5 games.
Tiebreakers: Phillies won season series with Dodgers 5-1; Phillies won season series with Brewers 4-2.
Magic number to clinch NL East: Clinched Sept. 23.
Phillies schedule:
Sept. 24: vs. Cubs, 6:40 p.m., EST
Sept. 25: vs. Cubs, 6:05 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: at Nationals, 6:45 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: at Nationals, 4:05 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: at Nationals, 3:05 p.m., EST
NEW YORK METS (87-69)
Standings: Second in NL East. Second in NL wild-card standings. Lead Diamondbacks by 1.5 games for second NL wild card. Lead Braves by 2 games for third NL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Mets and Braves season series tied 5-5; Mets won season series with D’backs 4-3; Mets won season series with Padres 5-1.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 5
Mets schedule:
Sept. 24: at Braves, 7:20 p.m., EST
Sept. 25: at Braves, 7:20 p.m., EST
Sept. 26: at Braves, 7:20 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: at Brewers, 8:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: at Brewers, 7:15 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: at Brewers, 3:10 p.m., EST
ATLANTA BRAVES (85-71)
Standings: Third in NL East. Fourth in NL wild-card standings. Trail Diamondbacks by 1.5 games for third NL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Braves and Mets season series tied 5-5; Braves won season series with Diamondbacks 5-2; Braves lost season series with Padres 4-3; Braves won season series with Mets 7-6.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 5
Braves schedule:
Sept. 24: vs. Mets, 7:20 p.m., EST
Sept. 25: vs. Mets, 7:20 p.m., EST
Sept. 26: vs Mets, 7:20 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: vs. Royals, 7:20 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: vs. Royals, 7:20 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: vs. Royals, 3:20 p.m., EST
NL CENTRAL
MILWAUKEE BREWERS (89-67)
Standings: First in NL Central. Lead second-place Cubs by 9.5 games.
Tiebreakers: Brewers lost season series with Dodgers 4-3; Brewers lost season series with Phillies 4-2.
Magic number to clinch NL Central: Clinched on Sept. 18.
Brewers schedule:
Sept. 24: at Pirates, 6:40 p.m., EST
Sept. 25: at Pirates, 6:40 p.m., EST
Sept. 26: at Pirates, 12:35 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: vs. Mets, 8:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: vs. Mets, 7:15 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: vs. Mets, 3:10 p.m., EST
NL WEST
LOS ANGELES DODGERS (93-63)
Standings: First in NL West. Lead second-place Padres by 3 games.
Tiebreakers: Dodgers trail season series with Padres 7-3; Dodgers lost season series with Phillies 5-1; Dodgers won season series with Brewers 4-3.
Magic number to clinch NL West: 4
Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched Sept. 19.
Dodgers schedule:
Sept. 24: vs. Padres, 10:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 25: vs. Padres, 10:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 26: vs. Padres, 10:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: at Rockies, 8:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: at Rockies, 8:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: at Rockies, 3:10 p.m., EST
SAN DIEGO PADRES (90-66)
Standings: Second in NL West. Trail first-place Dodgers by 3 games. First in NL wild-card standings. Lead Mets by 3 games for first NL wild card. Lead Diamondbacks by 3.5 games for second NL wild card. Lead Braves by 5 games for third NL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Padres and Diamondbacks, season series tied 5-5; Padres lead season series with Dodgers 7-3; Padres won season series with Braves 4-3; Padres lost season series with Mets 5-1.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 1
Padres schedule:
Sept. 24: at Dodgers, 10:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 25: at Dodgers, 10:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 26: at Dodgers, 10:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: at Diamondbacks, 9:40 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: at Diamondbacks, 8:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: at Diamondbacks, 3:10 p.m., EST
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (87-70)
Standings: Third in NL West. Third in NL wild-card standings. Lead Braves by 1.5 games for third NL wild card.
Tiebreakers: D’backs and Padres season series tied 5-5; D’backs lost season series with Braves 5-2; D’backs lost season series with Mets 4-3.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 5
Diamondbacks schedule:
Sept. 24: vs. Giants, 9:40 p.m., EST
Sept. 25: vs. Giants, 9:40 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: vs. Padres, 9:40 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: vs, Padres, 8:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: vs. Padres, 3:10 p.m., EST
CURRENT POSTSEASON MATCHUPS
AL WILD CARD SERIES (best-of-3)
Yankees (1), Guardians (2) byes
Tigers (6) at Astros (3)
Royals (5) at Orioles (4)
NL WILD CARD SERIES (best-of-3)
Phillies (1), Dodgers (2) byes
Diamondbacks (6) at Brewers (3)
Mets (5) at Padres (4)
Note: Higher seed will host all games (from Oct. 7-9).
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Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com.
